The first and only trade fair in the sector “in times of coronavirus“, the 2020 edition of Cifm/interzum guangzhou, a trade fair dedicated to technologies and supplies for the wood and furniture industry, has won its challenge.
In fact, the results obtained have shown that not only can a trade fair be held with the appropriate expedients, maintaining high safety standards, but also how the world market feels the need for trade fair appointments where you can meet in person.
Held from 27 to 30 July at the Pazhou Complex, at the same time as CIFF-China International Furniture Fair, Cifm/interzum guangzhou was attended by 800 exhibitors from 16 countries and 100 thousand visitors. The numbers can certainly not be compared with past editions (remember last year's figures: 1,459 exhibitors, 340 of whom from abroad, 89,858 visitors from 107 countries and regions in China), but they serve to give a positive signal at this time of global uncertainty and to make the event more successful than expected.
Only three Italian companies were present at the fair, namely Paolino Bacci, (machines), Italiana Ferramenta (supplies) and Ica (paints), but there were also other international operators, mainly from European countries, who wanted to take the opportunity to exhibit in China.

A safe trade fair, to be experienced in a positive and profitable way

The Chinese market remains one of the most important in the world. There was intense demand demonstrated by the record number of entries recorded on the third day of the Guangzhou fair, with even better data than those recorded on the same day of the previous edition. This was also proof that the strict measures taken to ensure the health safety of exhibitors and visitors convinced operators that the fair could be visited with peace of mind.
“It was undoubtedly an intense fair, held at a very special time,“ commented Thomas Rosolia, CEO of Koelnmesse Italia. “As the hours went by, the number of visitors increased. This shows that, by maintaining high levels of individual protection and verifying the strong, constant attention from all staff, trade fairs can be experienced in a positive and profitable way“.
“The #B-safe package of measures for operator safety, a long list of interventions and prescriptions, worked and Koelnmesse demonstrated how it is possible to ensure that an exhibition can be held with the necessary peace of mind. A way, I am sure, that will convince a growing number of Italian companies to be with us even in these times that remain complex and worrying,“ concluded Rosolia.

An intense digital activity has accompanied the fair

Particularly active was also the activity on the digital side which led to a sort of “parallel fair“ and which filled the event with new contents and different ways of contact, making it extremely comfortable and easy to “be at the fair“ while staying at home or in your office.
For those international customers who were unable to travel to China due to travel restrictions, interzum guangzhou offered 'Offline2Online Live Business Matching' which allowed them to virtually meet exhibitors to establish business relationships and learn about new products.